Mayor Sam Adams

On June 21, 2010, Billy Moore, a recent graduate of Rosemary Anderson High School, tragically lost his life on his way home from visiting his dying mother, Valerie Martinez, at OHSU. The Moore family is now faced with the emotional turmoil of losing two family members in one day as well as the tremendous financial burden associated with providing two memorial services.

Please help show the Moore family that they have our community's support by donating whatever you can to the Billy Moore Memorial Fund. Donations can be made at any Bank of America branch or online at the Fund's Web site.

Read the Oregonian's story about Billy.

Become a fan of Billy on Facebook.

About Billy (From Joe McFerrin II, President, Rosemary Anderson POIC)

Billy first enrolled in Rosemary Anderson High School (RAHS) in the fall of 2008. In his first few months at the school he struggled, but the longer he stayed, the more he bought into our program, and the more he brought to it.

Billy was working in a RAHS-sponsored internship with the Salvation Army - Moore Street Corps, where he was learning valuable work skills while earning money to help his family. Upon graduation, Billy entered our Transitions Program, where he would have received guidance and support until he reached the age of 25. He planned to attend Portland Community College in the fall.

Billy's mom, Valerie Martinez, died the same night after the family decided to take her off life-support, ending her long battle with leukemia.

Dear Portlanders,

Earlier tonight, I stood with Police Chief Mike Reese and North Precinct Commander Jim Ferraris at the North Precinct to ensure Portlanders that the Police Bureau is responding, increasing engagement and outreach, and calling for support and help from residents across the city.

As you may know, last night a tragic shooting in the New Columbia neighborhood took place, taking the life of a 17-year old boy.

Last night’s shooting was the fourth shooting in the last week. Two of those shootings were fatal; two of those shootings took place in the New Columbia neighborhood.

Law enforcement data we have shows an increase in gang activity in the Portland area. When we combine summertime weather with high levels of unemployment and youth unemployment, we have the ingredients for a rise in gang activity.

The Portland Police Bureau’s Gang Enforcement Team is very aware of and intensively working to aid the situation. Chief Reese and Commander Ferraris discussed the details of this increased presence and change in hot-spot crime prevention. Those details included: increased police presence in New Columbia and other key locations around the city, drawing from divisions and precincts from around the city; locating the Portland Police Mobile Unit in New Columbia; and, increasing engagement and outreach efforts by patrol officers on the street.

But to bring peace back to every neighborhood in Portland, this needs to be a community-wide effort with the police as partners.

We need the vigilant eyes and ears of every Portlander. To have as safe a summer as possible, I urge everyone in the community to become part of the solution. There are four straightforward ways to get involved:

1. Two of the four most recent shootings had no witnesses—no one who contacted us with information. If you witness a crime, call the Crimestoppers Tip Line.
   
   There are too many guns in the wrong hands in our city. If you see a gun in the wrong hands, call 9-1-1.Every tip can make the difference in solving a case and preventing another incident. The phone number is 503-823-HELP. The website is www.crimestoppersoforegon.com.
   
   
2. Volunteer in your community. For example, the Regence Boys and Girls Club in New Columbia needs volunteers and donations. Call them. Their number is: 503-853-8678.
   
   Portland Parks and Recreation needs volunteers. Even in a tough budget situation, Commissioner Fish and I worked to expand and provide free activities for youth during the summer—and we will provide more than ever this summer. Call 503-823-4000.
   
   
3. Family members of kids in the community, take advantage of the summer recreation opportunities. The City of Portland has invested in summer activities through Portland Parks and Recreation. The Portland Police Bureau has their summer recreation offerings. All these are free or very low-cost opportunities to keep kids safe, having fun and out of trouble.
   
   
4. Contact the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (503) 823-4000 about getting involved in or starting a Neighborhood Watch program in your community.
   
   Crime prevention specialists consider neighborhood watch programs to be one of the cornerstones of preventing crime. The Police Bureau and ONI will help you set up foot patrols and other efforts to help your neighborhood keep an eye on the streets and show gang members that you’re out and invested in the safety of your community. 72 percent of Portland neighborhoods have a public safety or neighborhood watch committee where you can get involved.

I want to thank David Pickett from the New Columbia neighborhood for his activism and community involvement. Talk to him to get more information.

Again, the shootings and absolutely tragic deaths over the past week are deeply distressing and troubling. The Police Bureau needs your help in curbing these acts of violence.

Please get involved today.

Sincerely,

Sam Adams

Mayor

This morning, Police Chief Mike Reese and I announced new policies and procedures in the Portland Police Bureau, and a new partnership between the City and the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community to improve safety and build better communications between the LGBTQ community and the Police Bureau, particularly in advance of Pride 2010 celebrations in Portland.

Bias crime in our community, against anyone, is unacceptable. The changes we are announcing today reflect a smart and holistic approach to peacekeeping. I want to thank the committed and engaged members of the community who participated in the constructive community dialogue that led to these changes and for stepping up to help keep Portland safe for all residents and visitors.

Following a number of reported bias crimes over the past few weeks, trends and needs have been identified and in cooperation with the LGBTQ community, the Police Bureau is enacting several changes to ensure the needs of the community are being met. The Bureau will focus on three areas that were consistently heard from LGBTQ individuals as crucial for improvement: Prevention, Communication and Community Relations, and Reporting.

The Police Bureau will implement the following:

"Though I am appalled at the bias crimes that have occurred, the one positive outcome of it is the honest and frank discussions we had with the LGBTQ community," said Chief Reese. "The Bureau's Sexual Minorities Roundtable is one of the oldest Bureau advisory groups and we are grateful to them for their long-standing partnership. We also want to thank the Q Center for stepping forward to assist us with their ideas and support."

These changes are especially timely in advance of next week's Pride week and Central Precinct officers will be conducting enhanced enforcement during that time. We are taking the necessary steps to foster a safe and fun environment for Pride 2010 because everyone deserves to have a positive experience.

I look forward to the continued positive change happening in the Police Bureau and to building an even stronger community.

Mayor Sam Adams and Portland Police Bureau Chief Mike Reese believe that our police officers are peacekeepers. Our officers are most effective when they help keep the peace on our behalf in a manner consistent with our community values.

Mayor Adams seeks a Coordinator to assist the Director of Public Safety & Peacekeeping. This is a full-time position with an annual salary of up to $50,000 depending on experience plus generous benefits package. The Public Safety & Peacekeeping Coordinator provides policy and administrative assistance to the Director.

Keeping the public safe and peaceful can be challenging. The Coordinator will help develop policy and provide logistical and administrative support to sensitive matters involving our community and our police officers. If you are an ideal candidate you have a demonstrated ability to assist the development of lasting solutions to complex problems.

Previous law enforcement experience is preferred. A demonstrated capacity to think quickly, organize, and write effectively is essential. You will be communicating with a wide range of constituents – elected officials, senior management, diverse communities, youth, etc.

To apply, please submit one electronic application and one hard copy application. Each should include a maximum one-page cover letter, resume, minimum three references, and maximum two-page writing sample. The writing sample should address a complex, emotionally charged situation involving multiple constituencies that you led to peaceful resolution.

Send the electronic application to: sierra.stringfield@ci.portland.or.us with the subject line: 'Mayor’s Public Safety & Peacekeeping Coordinator'. Send the hard copy application to:

Tom Miller
Chief of Staff
Re: Mayor's Director of Public Safety & Peacekeeping
Office of Mayor Sam Adams
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 340
Portland, OR 97204

Due to the high volume of applications, please no in-person, phone, or email inquiries. The Office of Mayor Sam Adams is an equal opportunity employer.

This position is open until filled.

Mayor Sam Adams and Portland Police Bureau Chief Mike Reese believe that our police officers are peacekeepers. Our officers are most effective when they help keep the peace on our behalf in a manner consistent with our community values.

Mayor Adams seeks a Director of Public Safety & Peacekeeping. This is a full-time position with an annual salary of up to $75,000 depending on experience plus generous benefits package. The Public Safety Director serves as the liaison between our mayor, our police bureau, and our community.

If you are an ideal candidate you have a demonstrated ability to understand multiple points of view on highly sensitive matters and craft lasting solutions to complex problems. This is a demanding position; to succeed you must be responsive to all perspectives related to law enforcement and peacekeeping.

Previous law enforcement experience is strongly preferred. A demonstrated capacity to think quickly, and communicate effectively to everybody – elected officials, senior police management, diverse communities, youth, etc. – is required. You will manage another full-time employee whose work will be split between policy and administrative support.

To apply, please submit one electronic application and one hard copy application. Each should include a maximum one-page cover letter, resume, minimum three references, and maximum two-page writing sample. The writing sample should address a complex, emotionally charged situation involving multiple constituencies that you led to peaceful resolution.

Send the electronic application to: sierra.stringfield@ci.portland.or.us with the subject line: 'Mayor's Director of Public Safety & Peacekeeping Application'. Send the hard copy application to:

Tom Miller
Chief of Staff
Re: Mayor's Director of Public Safety & Peacekeeping
Office of Mayor Sam Adams
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 340
Portland, OR 97204

Due to the high volume of applications, please no in-person, phone, or email inquiries. The Office of Mayor Sam Adams is an equal opportunity employer.

This position is open until filled.

The Office of Mayor Sam Adams would like to extend a warm thank you to everyone who joined him at the Gay-Bashing Discussion Forum held Wednesday night at the Q Center in response to the assault that occurred this past weekend. We appreciate the hard work of Stephen Cassell of Cassell Communications and Daniel Borgen of Just Out, who hosted the event after pulling it together in just a few days. And a big thank you to Q Center Director Kendall Clawson for hosting.  

We are also thankful to those who were involved in the altercation, and to Airick Heater, who was the target of hate-motivated violence this time last year, for sharing their experiences. Police Chief Mike Reese, Deputy District Attorney Rod Underhill, and Chief Counsel for the Oregon Department of Justice Sean Riddell were among the public officials on-hand to answer questions and address statistics and procedure.

The conversation centered on the issue of communication. Many in the LGBTQ community voiced feelings of not being heard or made to feel safe by the Portland Police Bureau. Officers spoke of the importance of reporting hate crimes.

We are actively going through comments from this and other discussions focused on public safety for the LGBTQ community. Check back for a more in-depth post, detailing specific recommendations, policy concepts, and ongoing concerns that we’re hearing. We welcome your continued participation and feedback.

In the meantime, see Thursday's coverage at Just Out and The Mercury and listen to the news report that aired on the KBOO Evening News. 

And check out these upcoming events for positive ways of dealing and responding to violence in the community:

Queer Self Defense Class

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
6:00pm-9:00pm
Q Center, the NEW location
4115 N Mississippi Ave, Portland 

$10-$50 sliding scale
NO ONE TURNED AWAY FOR LACK OF FUNDS!

De-escalation Techniques Theater

Sunday, June 13th, 2010
4:00pm-6:00pm
In Other Words Books
8 NE Killingsworth St, Portland

$3 - $25 sliding scale

(no one turned away for lack of funds) with all proceeds going to In Other Words

RESOURCES

To make an informal report of a crime in Oregon, call The Oregon Department of Justice at: (503) 378-6347

To find out how you can report a hate crime, call The Portland Police Bias Crimes Investigations at (503) 823-0887

If you have concerns about an interaction with someone on the Portland Police Bureau and would like to get in touch with the Independent Police Review Devision, call: (503) 823-0146.

Visit The Office of Neighborhood Involvement online or call: (503) 823-4519 to learn about Portland's crime prevention program and find out how you can get involved. 

As reported this morning in the Oregonian:

"A Multnomah County grand jury today found no criminal wrongdoing by the Portland police who fatally shot Keaton Otis on May 12. Forty-four witnesses testified before the grand jury, which met over several days. The district attorney's office will present a motion on Tuesday to the presiding judge to publicly release transcripts of the grand jury testimony."

 With the grand jury’s work concluded, I am working with the Portland Police Bureau and the Multnomah County District Attorney to release early next week all investigative reports and transcripts from the Grand Jury’s proceedings.  Next, will be an internal investigation of the matter in partnership with the Office of Independent Police Review (IPR). The reviews ahead will look at both the officer’s adherence to bureau policy, and systemic issues such as training and tactics. 

As police commissioner, I cannot prejudge the actions of anyone involved in this matter until the criminal investigation and the internal investigations are both complete and delivered to my desk for review.  

But without passing judgment, I know I speak for a lot of Portlanders when I express that this event evokes feelings of both heartbreak and relief. Heartbreak at the death of young Portlander Keaton Otis and relief that wounded police officer Chris Burley will recover from his gun shot wounds.  

Chief Reese and I intend to keep the peace in Portland moving forward with a different approach. It will take time to fully implement. But reform work has began with hands-on oversight and face-to-face outreach: visiting the scene of the shooting to better understand the issues at hand; visiting the hospital and talking with wounded Officer Chris Burley; and spending time with the parents of Keaton Otis, attending his funeral to hear first-hand their pain and grief.   

We’re also taking real steps forward in funding mental health services in the coming year’s budget, including funding the construction and operation of a joint City-County Mental Health Crisis Center; dedicating funding for the Hooper Detox Center; funding Crisis Intervention training for police officers, and continuing to fund the Police Bureau’s Service Coordination Team. 

And, as part of the Portland Plan, we are working toward creating real equality of opportunity in Portland, issues that cut across ethnic lines, age, and geography.  

I am working with Chief Reese to strengthen the trust between the Portland Police and many in the community it serves. Releasing the investigative reports and the Grand Jury transcripts is part of Chief Reese’s and my commitment to increased transparency and accountability within the Police Bureau.

Today, as Mayor of this great city, I will lead our men and women who serve us everyday in the Police Bureau in a different direction.

This afternoon, I submitted with the council clerk an executive order reassigning oversight of the Police Bureau to my office, effective immediately.

Earlier, I accepted the resignation of Rosie Sizer as Police Chief, effective immediately.

Make no mistake: the more than 1,200 men and women who serve and protect us every day have the potential to make up the finest police force in the country. As with virtually any law enforcement situation, we deploy our officers into complex and challenging situations all the time, asking them to make split-second decisions that sometimes involve life or death consequences. These are remarkably difficult jobs, and I am honored they serve us so well.

Despite the extraordinary efforts of the courageous few who wear the badge, the relationship between the citizens of Portland and their police officers is not what it needs to be. Too many Portlanders express concern about their own safety--not because of crime, but rather fear of their own police force.